Safety ski binding

ABSTRACT

A safety ski binding in which the boot is clamped to the ski by the interaction of a ski boot plate and a ski plate; the clamping force is obtained by a rodlike actuating member extending longitudinally in a channel provided in the ski plate and forcing the boot plate rearwardly against complementary engaging surfaces of the ski plate, the complementary engaging surfaces located at a point intermediate the heel and toe of the boot.

United States Patent Edmund Feb. 15, 1970 [54] SAFETY SK] BINDING FOREIGN PATENTS OR APPLICATIONS [72] Inventor: James Mitchel] Edmund, 6404 Ridge France ..280/] 1.35 CA Drive, Washington, no. 20016 Y 845,670 5/1939 France ..280/1 1.35 A [22] Filed: Feb. 4, 1970 Primary Examiner-Benjamin Hersh [21] Appl Assistant ExaminerMilton L. Smith Attorney-Craig, Antonelli & Hill [52] US. Cl. ....280/ll.35 K [51] Int. Cl ..A63c 9/086 ABSTRACT [58] Field ofSearch ..280/1 1.35 A safety Ski binding in which the boot is clamped to the ski by the interaction of a ski boot plate and a ski plate; the clamping [56] References cued force is obtained by a rodlike actuating member extending UNITED STATES PATENTS longitudinally in a channel provided in the ski plate and forcing the boot plate rearwardly against complementary engaging 3,271,040 9/1966 Spademan ..280/1 1.35 HA surfaces of the ski plate, the complementary engaging surfaces located at a point intermediate the heel and toe of the boot.

27 Claims, 11 Drawing Figures PATENTEUFEB 1 5 m2 sum 1 or 3 INVENTOR JAMES MITCHELL EDMUND ATTORNEYS PATENTEDFEB 15 I972 SHEET 0F 3 JAMES MITCHELL gomumo BY W'IM/ v M11 ATTORNEYS SAFETY SKI BINDING The present invention relates to a safety ski binding, and more particularly to a safety ski binding which includes a boot plate secured to the sole of the boot and a ski plate secured to the surface of the ski.

A safety ski binding of the aforementioned type has been described in my copending application, Ser. No. 827,558, filed on May 26, 1969, now US. Pat. No. 3,578,349 issued May 11, 1971, and entitled Safety Ski Binding." While the ski binding of my copending application entailed considerable advantages as regards simplicity in design and ability to more accurately control the ski, a drawback thereof resided in certain aspects of its upward release. Another, relatively minor drawback lay in the protrusion of portions of the binding over the sides of the ski, which could drag slightly in the snow during a turn. This would be a disadvantage to a ski racer. The present invention aims at avoiding the aforementioned drawbacks of the prior art safety ski binding of this type and at further improving its performance as well as simplifying the construction thereof to reduce the manufacturing costs.

The present invention essentially consists of a boot plate provided with beveled protruding portions at the sides thereof which engage with beveled protrusions extending upward at the sides of the ski plate. A pull lug provided at the end of a pull rod which slides in a centrally arranged slot of the ski plate, parallel to the ski sides, engages the forwardly facing central portion of the boot plate upon actuation of a leveroperated mechanism secured to the rear end of the actuating pull rod. As a result of the rearward force applied to the front face of the boot plate, the beveled boot plate protruding portions are forced tightly into place against the beveled ski plate protruding portions. The pull lug itself is provided with an inclined slot guided on a transverse pin crossing the centrally disposed slot in the ski plate to guide the lug positively during actuation thereof.

In another embodiment of a safety ski binding in accordance with the present invention, the ski plate is provided with an upwardly extending protrusion, which may be of the roller type, adapted to engage in a complementary indentation or recess provided along the rear end of the boot plate substantially central thereof while the front face of the boot plate is provided with a substantially centrally located detent, which maybe of the roller type for engagement with an upwardly projecting luglike protrusion fastened to the full rod. Again, as a result of a rearward force applied to the pull rod, transmitted to the front face of the boot plate, the indented rear face of the boot plate is forced tightly into place against the upwardly projecting protrusion of the ski plate.

Accordingly, it is an object of the present invention to provide a safety ski binding of the type described above which avoids by extremely simple means the shortcomings and drawbacks encountered in the prior art.

Another object of the present invention resides in a safety ski binding of the type described above which permits a safe forward or upward release without jeopardizing the simplicity of design and easy of manufacture as well as assembly.

A further object of the present invention resides in a safety ski binding of the type described above which provides excellent control, especially edging control of the ski.

These and further objects, features and advantages of the present invention will become more obvious from the following description when taken in connection with the accompanying drawing which shows, for purposes of illustration only, one embodiment in accordance with the present invention, and wherein:

FIG. 1 is a top plan view of a first embodiment of a safety ski binding in accordance with the present invention illustrating the boot plate in the installed position with the boot removed for the sake of clarity;

FIG. 2 is a side elevational view of the safety ski binding illustrated in FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is a partial cross-sectional view taken along line A- A ofFIG.1;

FIG. 4 is a side elevational view of the boot plate by itself;

FIG. 5 is a top plan view of a one-piece type of ski plate;

FIG. 6 is a side elevational view of the ski plate of FIG. 5;

FIG. 7 is a plan view of a modified ski plate made of two parts in accordance with the present invention;

FIG. 8 is a partial elevational view illustrating a modified embodiment of the slotted pull lug at the end of the pull rod in accordance with the present invention;

FIG. 9 is a cross-sectional view through a modified embodiment of a safety ski binding in accordance with the present invention, taken along line C-C of FIG. 11;

FIG. 10 is a cross-sectional view taken along line BB of FIG. 11; and

FIG. 11 is a plan view of the modified embodiment of the safety ski binding in accordance with the present invention.

Referring now to the drawing wherein like reference numerals are used throughout the various views to designate like parts, reference numeral 10 generally designates therein a ski, the forward end of which is indicated by arrow 11 in FIG. 1.

A ski plate generally designated by reference numeral 20 is mounted on the ski in a conventional manner by screws shown in FIG. 5 and generally indicated by reference numeral 21.

The ski plate 20 is provided with a central slot 22 for receiving therein a pull rod generally designated by reference numeral 30 (FIG. 3) which includes a rodlike portion 31 terminating at its forward end in the pull lug portion 32 which is provided with a slot 33 extending obliquely as shown in FIG. 3. A pin 25 which preferably extends through the ski plate 20 in the transverse direction for manufacturing reasons and which is made from hardened steel extends through the slot 33 to positively guide the lug head portion 32 during retraction thereof when the safety ski binding is tightened. The pin 25 is secured in the ski plate in any conventional manner. At its rear end the pull lug 30 is pivotally connected with a leveroperated mechanism of any conventional construction, for example, a conventional over-center-latch type of spring actuator, known as such in the art and therefore merely schematically illustrated in the drawing where it is designated by reference numeral 50. The actuating mechanism is preferably of the spring-loaded type, providing also for longitudinal adjustment to adapt the safety ski binding to slight variations in the installations of the boot plate and/or in the pressure force. The pull lug head portion 32 is provided with an engaging surface 34 shown in FIG. 3 which is rounded off as it passes over from a slightly obliquely inclined surface into the horizontal surface of the rod portion 31. The boot plate generally designated by reference numeral 40 is provided with an engaging surface 41 complementary to the engaging surface 34 of the pull lug head portion 32 which is formed within the recessed portion of the boot plate constituted by the two wall portions 42 and 43 adjoined by the engaging surface portion 41. The boot plate 40 is secured to the ski boot by means of screws schematically indicated by reference numeral 44 and additionally includes outwardly protruding engaging portions 45 at both sides thereof which are provided with engaging surfaces 46 adapted to engage with the engaging surfaces 61 of the luglike protrusions generally designated by reference numeral 60 and secured to each side of the ski plate by screws 62 or the like.

In operation, the pull rod 31 and pull lug 32 which operate in the slot 22 will force the boot together with the boot plate 40 rearwardly upon tightening the binding by actuation of the lever mechanism 50 owing to the engagement of the engaging surface 34 of the head portion 32 with the counter surface 41 at the boot plate 40. As a result thereof, the boot plate 40 inclusive the boot (not shown) is forced rearwardly, i.e., in a direction opposite arrow 11 by the pulling action of the pull lug 32, thereby forcing the beveled rotruding portions 45 of the boot plate 40 into place against the complementary beveled protruding portions or lugs 60. The pulling action on the pull lug 30 may be obtained, as mentioned above,- by the use of a conventional coil spring, lever and linkage similar to those employed in conventional cable-type ski bindings. The coil spring, lever and linkage are thereby so proportioned that a maximum pulling force of about 200 to 400 pounds on the pull lug is obtainable without excessive manual effort on the operating hand lever. As a result of the sloping slot 33 in the pull lug head portion 32, into which engages the fixed pin 25, extending transversely of the slot 22, the pull lug is caused to raise up above the ski plate surface as the pull lug is pulled rearwardly into engagement with the surface 41 of the boot plate 40, contrariwise, the lug is caused to sink down nearly flush with the top of the ski plate when the lug is forced toward the ski tip either by means of the actuating lever or by functioning of the safety release feature of the binding. The binding releases the boot under an excessive twisting force, approaching the value which would injure the skiers leg in the following manner. The boot plate pivots about one of the ski plate lugs 60, the right lug if the twisting motion is clockwise and the left lug if the twisting motion is counterclockwise, and pushes the head portion 32 of the pull lug 30 back, overcoming the existing spring pressure until the pull lug head portion 32 drops down out of engagement with the boot plate 40 and therefore releases the boot from the ski. When an excessive upward force on the boot plate 40 occurs, as in case of a forward fall into deep, soft snow, the angle of the ski plate lugs 60, i.e., of the engaging surfaces 61 thereof permits the boot plate 40 to move angularly forwardly and upwardly until the boot plate is disengaged from the pull lug 30 and the ski plate lugs 60, thereby releasing the boot from the ski.

Additionally, the binding of thepresent invention also provides a forward safety release since this pull lug head portion 32 moves toward the ski tip under excessive forward force, overcoming the existing spring force, until the head portion 32 of the pull lug 30 drops down out of engagement with the boot plate, thereby releasing the boot plate from the ski. The posi tive actuation and guidance of the pull lug 30 by the interengagement of the pin 25 with the lug 30 thus constitutes an important feature of the present invention since it also assures a dropping down of the head portion 32 in the event of a forward release, thereby increasing further the safety of the binding.

As shown in FIG. 6, the bottom surface of the ski plate 20 is preferably undercut to form tapering end portions 20 and 20 so as to permit the ski to flex in the event the ski passes through a trough.

FIG. 7 illustrates a modified embodiment of a ski plate generally designated by reference numeral 120 and consisting of a ski plate rear-central portion 120 and a small transversely extending ski plate toe portion 120", each suitably secured to the ski by means of screws.

FIG. 8 illustrates a modified embodiment of a pull lug head portion generally designated by reference numeral 130 which is substantially similar to the pull lug head portion 30 of the first embodiment but differs therefrom in that an open slot 133 is provided for ease of manufacture. In this modified construction, by provision of a slightly raised portion of pull rod 131 (not shown), near the rear end, designed to stop against the surface of the ski plate 120 at the rear end of slot 22, a disengagement of the pin 25 out of the slot 133 can be prevented by precluding the head portion 132 to rise or tilt to such an extent that the pin 25 would leave the slot 133.

In the modified embodiment of FIGS. 9, l and 11, similar reference numerals are used to designate similar parts as in the first embodiment, utilizing similar reference numerals of the 100 series to designate corresponding parts. In this modified embodiment, a ski plate generally designated by reference numeral 120 is again suitably secured in any conventional manner on the ski generally designated by reference numeral 10, the forward end of which is indicated by arrow 11. As illustrated in FIG. 10, the ski plate is of substantially inverted U- shaped configuration consisting of a base portion 121 and side portions 122 and 123. A protruding member 124, of substantially circular configuration in plan view and of slightly downwardly tapering configuration in cross section (FIG. 9) is suitably fastened substantially in the center of the base portion 121 by a suitable pin 125. The mounting of the engaging member 124 is thereby preferably made in such a manner as to permit some rotation thereof to facilitate engagement of the safety ski binding.

The boot plate generally designated by reference numeral 140 is fastened to the boot (not shown) by means of screws 144 and is provided with a forward end face generally designated by reference numeral 141 and by a rear end face generally designated by reference numeral 142.

A pull rod generally designated by reference numeral 130 which includes a pull rod portion 131 again connected at its rear end with a lever mechanism (not shown) of conventional construction is connected at its forward end with an engaging member 132 by means ofa pin member 133 (FIG. 10).

The forward engaging surface 141 of the boot plate is beveled upward inwardly as shown in FIG. 9 to engage with the outer surface 132 of the engaging member 132 which is of approximately complementary configuration. The engaging surface 142 has a shape, clearly shown also in FIG. 9, which assures proper engagement with the engaging surface 124 of the engaging member 124. Additionally, to assure a proper lateral guidance, the engaging surface 141 is provided with a recessed portion 141' in the center thereof while the rearward engaging surface 142 forms a deep recess of complementary shape to the external configuration of the engaging member 124, as clearly illustrated in FIG. 11.

Upon actuation of the lever mechanism (not shown), the pull rod 131 is pulled rearwardly so that the engaging member 132 engages with the engaging surface 141, applies a rearward force against the surface 141 and will adjust the boot to be properly centered due to the presence of the recess 141. Due to the rearward force applied against the boot plate 140, the rear engaging surface 142 securely engages the engaging member 124 so that the boot is now securely held in place on the ski.

A release of the safety binding due to lateral forces is possible since the indentation 141 is relatively shallow and can be so designed and matched to the spring force of the actuating lever mechanism that a predetermined lateral force will permit the boot to swivel about the axis of pin thereby forcing the engaging member 132 to ride along the engaging surface 141 until it passes the apex 141 or 141" whereafter the release takes place.

While I have shown and described only one embodiment in accordance with the present invention, it is understood that the same is not limited thereto but is susceptible of numerous changes and modifications as known to those skilled in the art, and I therefore do not wish to be limited to the details shown and described herein but intend to cover all such changes and modifications as are within the scope of those skilled in the art.

I. claim:

1. A safety ski binding, characterized by a boot plate adapted to be mounted on the bottom of the ski boot intermediate its toe and heel and forward of the heel portion, ski plate means mounted on the ski at least within the area of the location of the boot plate and provided with longitudinally extending channel means, means including complementary engaging surface means on said boot plate and on said plate means for releasably securing the boot plate to said ski plate means including actuator means having an actuator portion in said channel means and a rearwardly facing boot plate engaging surface portion adapted to engage with an engaging surface means on the front of said boot plate, and means for producing a clamping pressure between said complementary engaging surface means by retracting said actuator means in said longitudinal direction provide clamping pressure between the engaging portion and the surface within said channel means.

2. A safety ski binding according to claim 1, characterized in that said retracting means is disposed rearwardly of the normal position of the boot on the ski and includes a latching mechanism adapted to elastically retract said engaging portion and said longitudinally extending portion.

3. A safety ski binding according to claim 1, characterized in that said complementary engaging surface means include protruding portions on the side of the ski plate means.

4. A safety ski binding according to claim 3, characterized in that said protruding portions are secured laterally to said ski plate means.

5. A safety ski binding according to claim 3, characterized in that said protruding portions are provided with upwardly extending, downwardly facing inclined engaging surfaces.

6. A safety ski binding according to claim 5, characterized in that said boot plate is provided near the outer ends with engaging surfaces complementary to the engaging surfaces of said protruding portions for clamping engagement therewith.

7. A safety ski binding according to claim 3, characterized in that said protruding portions are disposed within the confines of the ski as viewed in top plan view.

8. A safety ski binding according to claim 1, characterized in that said engaging portion is provided with engaging surface means complementary to engaging surface means provided substantially centrally on the boot plate.

9. A safety ski binding according to claim 1, characterized in that said engaging portion is of lug-type shape and provided with rearwardly upwardly inclined aperture means through which extends a guide pin extending transversely to the channel means and secured in said ski plate means.

10. A safety ski binding according to claim 9, characterized in that said aperture means is a closed elongated aperture.

ll. A safety ski binding according to claim 9, characterized in that said aperture means is an elongated aperture open at the lower end.

12. A safety ski binding according to claim 1, characterized in that the ski plate means is provided with tapering end portions as viewed in side view to provide a thickness decreasing in the direction toward a respective end.

13. A safety ski binding according to claim 1, characterized in that said ski plate means is formed of two parts consisting of a relatively narrow transversely extending sole support member and of a relatively longer instep and heel support member.

14. A safety ski binding according to claim 1, wherein said ski plate means is provided with an upwardly extending pin member having a roller member with engaging surface means adapted to engage with complementary surface means provided along the rear edge of the ski boot plate.

15. A safety ski binding according to claim 14, wherein the rear end of the ski boot plate including the surface means are of approximately V-shaped configuration as viewed in plan view.

16. A safety ski binding according to claim 15, characterized in that said boot plate engaging portion is constituted by a pinlike member having a roller member provided with the engaging surface means engaging with complementary engaging surface means at the forward edge of the ski boot plate.

17. A safety ski binding according to claim 16, wherein the forward engaging surface means of the ski boot plate have a recessed portion to assure self-alignment of the boot by engagement thereof with the engaging surface means of the lastmentioned roller member.

18. A safety ski binding according to claim 14, characterized in that said engaging portion is constituted by a pinlike member having a roller member provided with engaging surface means engaging with complementary engaging surface means at the forward edge of the ski boot plate.

19. A safety ski binding according to claim 1, characterized in that said channel means is arranged substantially centrally of the ski plate means.

20. A safety ski binding according to claim 19, characterized in that said engaging portion is provided with engaging surface means complementary to engaging surface means provided substantially centrally on the boot plate.

21. A safety ski binding according to claim 20, characterized in that said engaging portion is of lug-type shape and provided with rearwardly upwardly inclined aperture means through which extends a guide pm extending transversely to the channel means and secured in said ski plate means.

22. A safety ski binding according to claim 21, characterized in that said retracting means is disposed rearwardly of the normal position of the boot on the ski and includes a latching mechanism adapted to elastically retract said engaging portion and said longitudinal extending portion.

23. A safety ski binding according to claim 1, characterized in that said ski plate means provides a support for the ski boot within the areas of the toe and heel portion thereof.

24. A safety ski binding according to claim 1, characterized in that said complementary engaging surface means provide a direct forward safety release in addition to lateral toe and upward heel releases.

25. A safety ski binding according to claim 1, characterized in that said complementary engaging surface means include complementary engaging surface portions disposed on the sides of the boot plate and of the ski plate means within the confines ofthe ski as viewed in top plan view.

26. A safety ski binding according to claim 25, characterized in that said complementary engaging surface portions provide a direct forward safety release.

27. A safety ski binding according to claim 1, characterized in that said releasing means includes means for automatically lowering said boot plate engaging surface portion into said channel means in the presence of a predetermined forwardly directed force at the boot plate. 

1. A safety ski binding, characterized by a boot plate adapted to be mounted on the bottom of the ski boot intermediate its toe and heel and forward of the heel portion, ski plate means mounted on the ski at least within the area of the location of the boot plate and provided with longitudinally extending channel means, means including complementary engaging surface means on said boot plate and on said plate means for releasably securing the boot plate to said ski plate means including actuator means having an actuator portion in said channel means and a rearwardly facing boot plate engaging surface portion adapted to engage with an engaging surface means on the front of said boot plate, and means for producing a clamping pressure between said complementary engaging surface means by retracting said actuator means in said longitudinal direction provide clamping pressure between the engaging portion and the surface within said channel means.
 2. A safety ski binding according to claim 1, characterized in that said retracting means is disposed rearwardly of the normal position of the boot on the ski and includes a latching mechanism adapted to elastically retract said engaging portion and said longitudinally extending portion.
 3. A safety ski binding according to claim 1, characterized in that said complementary engaging surface means include protruding portions on the side of the ski plate means.
 4. A safety ski binding according to claim 3, characterized in that said protruding portions are secured laterally to said ski plate means.
 5. A safety ski binding according to claim 3, characterized in that said protruding portions are provided with upwardly extending, downwardly facing inclined engaging surfaces.
 6. A safety ski binding according to claim 5, characterized in that said boot plate is provided near the outer ends with engaging surfaces complementary to the engaging surfaces of said protruding portions for clamping engagement therewith.
 7. A safety ski binding according to claim 3, characterized in that said protruding portions are disposed within the confines of the ski as viewed in top plan view.
 8. A safety ski binding according to claim 1, characterized in that said engaging portion is provided with engaging surface means complementary to engaging surface means provided substantially centrally on the boot plate.
 9. A safety ski binding according to claim 1, characterized in that said engaging portion is of lug-type shape and provided with rearwardly upwardly inclined aperture means through which extends a guide pin extending transversely to the channel means and secured in said ski plate means.
 10. A safety ski binding according to claim 9, characterized in that said aperture means is a closed elongated aperture.
 11. A safety ski binding according to claim 9, characterized in that said aperture means is an elongated aperture open at the lower end.
 12. A safety ski binding according to claim 1, characterized in that the ski plate means is provided with tapering end portions as viewed in side view to provide a thickness decreasing in the direction toward a respective end.
 13. A safety ski binding according to claim 1, characterized in that said ski plate means is formed of two parts consisting of a relatively narrow transversely extending sole support member and of a relatively longer instep and heel support member.
 14. A safety ski binding according to claim 1, wherein said ski plate means is provided with an upwardly extending pin member having a roller member with engaging surface means adapted to engage with complementary surface means provided along the rear edge of the ski boot plate.
 15. A safety ski binding according to claim 14, wherein the rear end of the ski boot plate including the surface means are of approximately V-shaped configuration as viewed in plan view.
 16. A safety ski binding according to claim 15, characterized in that said boot plate engaging portion is constituted by a pinlike member having a roller member provided with the engaging surface means engaging with complementary engaging surface means at the forward edge of the ski boot plate.
 17. A safety ski binding according to claim 16, wherein the forward engaging surface means of the ski boot plate have a recessed portion to assure self-alignment of the boot by engagement thereof with the engaging surface means of the last-mentioned roller member.
 18. A safety ski binding according to claim 14, characterized in that said engaging portion is constituted by a pinlike member having a roller member provided with engaging surface means engaging with complementary engaging surface means at the forward edge of the ski boot plate.
 19. A safety ski binding according to claim 1, characterized in that said channel means is arranged substantially centrally of the ski plate means.
 20. A safety ski binding according to claim 19, characterized in that said engaging portion is provided with engaging surface means complementary to engaging surface means provided substantially centrally on the boot plate.
 21. A safety ski binding according to claim 20, characterized in that said engaging portion is of lug-type shape and provided with rearwardly upwardly inclined aperture means through which extends a guide pin extending transversely to the channel means and secured in said ski plate means.
 22. A safety ski binding according to claim 21, characterized in that said retracting means is disposed rearwardly of the normal position of the boot on the ski and includes a latching mechanism adapted to elastically retract said engaging portion and said longitudinal extending portion.
 23. A safety ski binding according to claim 1, characterized in that said ski plate means provides a support for the ski boot within the areas of the toe and heel portion thereof.
 24. A safety ski binding according to claim 1, characterized in that said complementary engaging surface means provide a direct forward safety release in addition to lateral toe and upward heel releases.
 25. A safety ski binding according to claim 1, characterized in that said complementary engaging surface means include complementary engaging surface portions disposed on the sides of the boot plate and of the ski plate means within the confines of the ski as viewed in top plan view.
 26. A safety ski binding according to claim 25, characterized in that said complementary engaging surface portions provide a direct forward safety release.
 27. A safety ski binding according to claim 1, characterized in that said releasing means includes means for automatically lowering said boot plate engaging surface portion into said channel means in the presence of a predetermined forwardly directed force at the boot plate. 